Camera Reviews

Detailed camera reviews for underwater photo and video, including specs, key features for u/w photography and camera comparisons.

A full review of Olympus Tough TG-6's underwater performance, ergonomics, and updates to the TG-5.
By Nirupam Nigam

Olympus TG-6 Review

Nirupam Nigam
A full review of Olympus Tough TG-6's underwater performance, ergonomics, and updates to the TG-5.

Before the review the Olympus TG-6, let's talk about its predecessor. The Olympus TG-5 waterproof camera has been the go-to camera for compact and macro underwater photographers since its release in May, 2017. Two years later, the underwater photographic community has been itching for an upgrade. After all, who doesn’t want an even better version of an already amazing camera?

Reviews: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nirupam Nigam is the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the President of Bluewater Photo - the world's top underwater photo & video retailer. While growing up in Los Angeles he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in the local Channel Islands. After receiving degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies, Nirupam worked as a fisheries observer on vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Since then, Nirupam has been a full time underwater photographer and photo gear head. Check out more of his photography at www.photosfromthesea.com!

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


Panasonic introduces the S1H, the first full-frame mirrorless cinema camera capable of 6K video!
By Nirupam Nigam

Panasonic Lumix S1H First Look & Review

Nirupam Nigam
Panasonic introduces the S1H, the first full-frame mirrorless cinema camera capable of 6K video!

When Panasonic released the S1 and S1R earlier this year, it woke the world up to what the full-frame mirrorless revolution meant for video. But the announcement of the Panasonic Lumix S1H is a revolution in its own right. Every line of camera has its pivotal model and the S1H will be the Panasonic S-series’ shining star.

Reviews: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nirupam Nigam is the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the President of Bluewater Photo - the world's top underwater photo & video retailer. While growing up in Los Angeles he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in the local Channel Islands. After receiving degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies, Nirupam worked as a fisheries observer on vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Since then, Nirupam has been a full time underwater photographer and photo gear head. Check out more of his photography at www.photosfromthesea.com!

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


Sony introduces its next mirrorless Alpha line, cropped sensor camera - the a6400
By Nirupam Nigam

Sony a6400 Camera Review

Nirupam Nigam
Sony introduces its next mirrorless Alpha line, cropped sensor camera - the a6400

Sony has recently announced its newest model of Alpha line APS-C (crop sensor) mirrorless camera – the Sony a6400. The name can cause a little confusion as the Sony a6400 is actually the next camera in line after the Sony a6300 and Sony a6500.

Reviews: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nirupam Nigam is the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the President of Bluewater Photo - the world's top underwater photo & video retailer. While growing up in Los Angeles he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in the local Channel Islands. After receiving degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies, Nirupam worked as a fisheries observer on vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Since then, Nirupam has been a full time underwater photographer and photo gear head. Check out more of his photography at www.photosfromthesea.com!

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


The Canon EOS R features a full-frame, 30.3 megapixel sensor and the best underwater auto focus and ergonomics of any full-frame mirrorless camera
By Nirupam Nigam

Canon EOS R Review

Canon EOS R Review
Nirupam Nigam
The Canon EOS R features a full-frame, 30.3 megapixel sensor and the best underwater auto focus and ergonomics of any full-frame mirrorless camera

When the Canon EOS R made its debut as Canon’s flagship full-frame mirrorless camera, the world’s largest camera manufacturer solidified a global shift away from DSLRs to professional mirrorless cameras. The development of a new RF mount and RF lenses was a testament to Canon’s commitment. Because of this, many photographers expected something amazing to come out of Canon’s flagship full-frame mirrorless camera. 

Reviews: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nirupam Nigam is the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the President of Bluewater Photo - the world's top underwater photo & video retailer. While growing up in Los Angeles he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in the local Channel Islands. After receiving degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies, Nirupam worked as a fisheries observer on vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Since then, Nirupam has been a full time underwater photographer and photo gear head. Check out more of his photography at www.photosfromthesea.com!

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


An in-depth review of the Paralenz Dive Camera featuring an underwater video camera built for scuba diving
By Nirupam Nigam

Paralenz Dive Camera Review

Nirupam Nigam
An in-depth review of the Paralenz Dive Camera featuring an underwater video camera built for scuba diving

The Paralenz Dive Camera is a new action camera, developed by scuba divers and made for scuba diving. For years major brands such as GoPro have left scuba divers on the fringe of their extreme-sports market. But Paralenz has gone above and beyond in catering to divers and customizing their camera in every way possible to fit scuba divers’ needs.

Reviews: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nirupam Nigam is the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the President of Bluewater Photo - the world's top underwater photo & video retailer. While growing up in Los Angeles he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in the local Channel Islands. After receiving degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies, Nirupam worked as a fisheries observer on vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Since then, Nirupam has been a full time underwater photographer and photo gear head. Check out more of his photography at www.photosfromthesea.com!

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


An in-depth review of the new GoPro HERO 7 Black for underwater use featuring amazing improvements in underwater video and photo
By Bryan Chu

GoPro Hero 7 Underwater Camera Review

Bryan Chu
An in-depth review of the new GoPro HERO 7 Black for underwater use featuring amazing improvements in underwater video and photo

The GoPro is the world's most popular underwater camera, and for good reason. It is compact, affordable, and surprisingly powerful - allowing almost anyone to take it on a dive and get decent-quality video (depending on conditions and accessories used, of course). In fact, even Hollywood uses the GoPro for those hard-to-get shots. I have had the pleasure of using both the GoPro 6 Black and the GoPro 7 Black in many underwater situations, while diving and snorkeling in Southeast Asia. 

Reviews: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bryan is an editor and writer for the Underwater Photography Guide. He loves any activity that takes him out into nature, and is especially fond of multi-day hiking trips, road trips to National Parks, and diving. Any kind of diving. He discovered the joy of underwater photography on a Bluewater trip to the Sea of Cortez and has been hooked ever since. He recently finished a 1-year "radical sabbatical" with his partner Lisa (both of them quit their jobs), which included over 120 dives, mostly in Indonesia and the Philippines. His very favourite underwater experiences include swimming with humpbacks in Moorea, being smashed against the rocks next to marine iguanas in the Galapagos, marvelling at the riotously colourful reefs of Komodo, freezing his hands off under the ice in Greenland, and exploring the never-ending wonders of muck diving in Tulamben and Anilao (where he was a Bluewater photo workshop co-trip leader).

Fortunately, Bryan and Lisa managed to avoid killing each other during their year of traveling together (though at times it came close). Now they are back home in Canada, planning their wedding and doing their best to figure out what they want to be when they grow up. Their main concern at this point is finding a way to not run out of money, while avoiding returning back to their old 9-5  jobs (oil & gas, government). Oh, and also continuing to support their diving and underwater photo/video habits...

You can find more of Bryan's underwater photos on Instagram at @bryan_chu_photography and on his website at www.bryanchu.ca.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


The Paralenz Dive Camera is compact, durable, and ergonomic - everything a coldwater diver needs
By Nirupam Nigam

Coldwater Diving with the Paralenz

Nirupam Nigam
The Paralenz Dive Camera is compact, durable, and ergonomic - everything a coldwater diver needs

Photography and videography equipment is constantly being “adapted” for underwater usage. Rarely is a video camera made specifically for divers…. until now. The Paralenz Dive Camera is a relatively new action camera on the market. And as they like to say – it’s built for divers, by divers. 

Reviews: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nirupam Nigam is the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the President of Bluewater Photo - the world's top underwater photo & video retailer. While growing up in Los Angeles he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in the local Channel Islands. After receiving degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies, Nirupam worked as a fisheries observer on vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Since then, Nirupam has been a full time underwater photographer and photo gear head. Check out more of his photography at www.photosfromthesea.com!

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


Nikon entered the mirrorless market with their new Z-series, featuring a full-frame sensor, some great specs and a bold lens mount redesign.
By Nirupam Nigam

Nikon Z7 and Z6 Camera Review

Nikon Z7 and Z6 Camera Review
Nirupam Nigam
Nikon entered the mirrorless market with their new Z-series, featuring a full-frame sensor, some great specs and a bold lens mount redesign.

Photographed in Socorro, Mexico by David Sancho. Nikon Z7 in a Nauticam Z7 Housing, Nikon 16-35mm F4 VR lens, 8-inch dome port, dual YS-D2J strobes, Nauticam TTL converter. f/8, 1/200, ISO 200

 

Reviews: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nirupam Nigam is the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the President of Bluewater Photo - the world's top underwater photo & video retailer. While growing up in Los Angeles he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in the local Channel Islands. After receiving degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies, Nirupam worked as a fisheries observer on vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Since then, Nirupam has been a full time underwater photographer and photo gear head. Check out more of his photography at www.photosfromthesea.com!

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


How will Fujifilm's highest resolution APS-C camera, the X-T3, perform underwater?
By Nirupam Nigam

Fujifilm X-T3: Taking Fujifilm Underwater

Nirupam Nigam
How will Fujifilm's highest resolution APS-C camera, the X-T3, perform underwater?

Underwater photography does not take well to underdog manufactures. This is entirely because underwater photographers require a massive support system with significantly more equipment required in the baseline toolkit. It’s easy to name the big players in underwater photography – Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus, and Panasonic (in that order). We often forget that there’s more out there. In fact, some of the legends of the film days still exist. One of these that appears on the radar intermittently is Fujifilm.

Reviews: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nirupam Nigam is the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the President of Bluewater Photo - the world's top underwater photo & video retailer. While growing up in Los Angeles he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in the local Channel Islands. After receiving degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies, Nirupam worked as a fisheries observer on vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Since then, Nirupam has been a full time underwater photographer and photo gear head. Check out more of his photography at www.photosfromthesea.com!

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


Initial thoughts and photos from a weekend underwater with the Nikon Z7
By Nirupam Nigam

Why the Nikon Z7 is My New Favorite Underwater Camera

Nirupam Nigam
Initial thoughts and photos from a weekend underwater with the Nikon Z7
Reviews: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nirupam Nigam is the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the President of Bluewater Photo - the world's top underwater photo & video retailer. While growing up in Los Angeles he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in the local Channel Islands. After receiving degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies, Nirupam worked as a fisheries observer on vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Since then, Nirupam has been a full time underwater photographer and photo gear head. Check out more of his photography at www.photosfromthesea.com!

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


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